Teacher accused of sex abuse: [1 First With The News Edition]

Teacher accused of sex abuse: [1 First With The News Edition]

A MALE Toowoomba Prep School teacher accused of sexually abusing a former male student has been stood down from the school, pending a police investigation.

A spokesman for Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said although he was distressed by the new allegations, he was pleased that the procedures and policies for dealing with such complaints had been followed.

The spokesman said Dr Aspinall was determined to continue his efforts to confront the pain of past abuse while at the same time ensuring that everything possible was being done to prevent future improper conduct.

A MALE Toowoomba Prep School teacher accused of sexually abusing a former male student has been stood down from the school, pending a police investigation.

The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, which runs the school, said lawyers had made a claim for damages on behalf of a former male student.

Allegations the teacher abused the student were received on December 24 last year and referred immediately to police.

The teacher, who has taught at the school for about 30 years, has been stood aside on full pay.

He has told the school through his solicitor that he will be strenuously defending any charges.

A spokesman for Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said although he was distressed by the new allegations, he was pleased that the procedures and policies for dealing with such complaints had been followed.

The spokesman said Dr Aspinall was determined to continue his efforts to confront the pain of past abuse while at the same time ensuring that everything possible was being done to prevent future improper conduct.

School headmaster Bruce Howden yesterday issued a statement saying the teachers and parents of the school had been advised.

A current parent, who did not want to be named for fear his children would be victimised, said it was “pretty lousy” that a student had waited so long to complain and was drawing the teacher through a court case.

“He’s had plenty of time to (report) it,” he said. The father said the students liked the teacher.

“There was no indication of anything untoward. I wouldn’t have thought that anything was happening at all. The kids definitely loved him,” he said.

But a former parent who complained to a former prep headmaster about the behaviour of the teacher in 1982, said his concerns for his children’s safety had been dismissed.